Ivybridge Community College

World Book Day

Ivybridge Community College has become a place where worlds collide – fiction and non-fiction; classical and modern; fantasy and reality.

With World Book Day on Thursday, 2 March, activities started on Monday, 27 February and lasted for four days.

The week began with students completing a challenge to find out what teachers in different Departments were reading. All teachers have a poster displayed just outside their room which states which book they are currently enjoying, reinforcing the fact that reading is not just an English thing but something that everyone enjoys. Students who collected titles from each Department won a prize.

Monday was also busy for the teachers, as they balanced, squeezed and relaxed with books for the ‘Get Caught Reading’ competition. There was a wonderful collection of ICC staff in weird and wacky positions, all in the name of reading. Mrs Snodin was caught reading in the jacuzzi, Mrs Setter was reading with her goats, Mr Barry was balancing on the roof with his book, and Mrs Mulgrew took a Ferrari for a spin while reading, to name but a few. All of the entries were displayed and the student librarians were kept busy throughout Tuesday lunch time while students voted for their favourite picture. The votes were quickly counted and the winner was announced to the staff during the briefing on Wednesday morning. There was a tense atmosphere while everyone waited to find out that Mr John Mitchell, who selflessly threw himself into the Sound, fully clothed, in the aid of promoting reading, was voted the winner; well done, Mr Mitchell!

On Wednesday, students had the chance to enter a national competition to design a book token. Having all received their National Book Token, entitling them to a free book, it was wonderful that they were then given the opportunity to redesign the token for next year.

There was also a chance for students to enjoy a story being read to them on each day. At different places around the College, staff gave up their lunch time to read to students. Throughout the week, students happily listened to Mr Collins, Mrs Chalmers, Mr Knightley, Mr Clatworthy, Mrs Munday and many more.

Within English classes, students in Years 7 to 9 have been creating book reviews to be entered into a competition, all embracing the opportunity to talk about the books they love. They have also been challenged to ‘Catch a Parent Reading’ to win the opportunity to attend a special event in the LRC.

The schedule of activities culminated on a high on Thursday. The day started with a celebratory assembly for Year 7, with Mrs Fairclough, Mrs Pitcher and Miss Smith imparting the importance of reading. They were joined by Chair of Governors, Mr Michael Saltern, who judged the fancy dress competition. Each Year 7 Tutor Group had chosen a book or theme to dress up as, leaving the assembly hall full of Hogwarts students, Dalmatians, Mr Men and characters from Narnia. Mr Saltern chose Miss Samuel’s Tutor Group as the winners, who were dressed as characters from Alice in Wonderland.

All students were then lucky enough to enjoy Drop Everything and Read time for twenty minutes during block 2. There was an air of stillness and contentment as Miss Smith crept around the College, capturing the magic with a camera.

Lunchtime on Thursday brought a buzz of excitement as students raced around the College finding out which characters the staff were dressed as, in order to claim a prize from the LRC. Students in the Dining Hall were also treated to a surprise as the English Department, dressed as characters from Alice in Wonderland, performed Lewis Carroll’s Jabberwocky as a flashmob. Hopefully they have all learnt to shun the frumious bandersnatch!

This year was the 20th anniversary of World Book Day, and staff and students all feel that this has been the best yet!